Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
NATURE OF BUSINESS	NATURE OF BUSINESS – Murphy Oil Corporation is an international oil and gas company that conducts its business through various operating subsidiaries. The Company produces oil and/or natural gas in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Republic of the Congo and conducts oil and natural gas exploration activities worldwide. The Company has an interest in a Canadian synthetic oil operation. Murphy markets petroleum products under various brand names and to unbranded wholesale customers in the United States and United Kingdom. It owns two ethanol production facilities in the United States and one petroleum refinery in the United Kingdom. In 2011, the Company sold two U.S. petroleum refineries and certain associated marketing assets. The Company has announced its intention to sell the U.K. refining and marketing assets and to separate its U.S. downstream subsidiary into an independent publicly held company. The Company has also announced that it has entered into agreements to sell its U.K. oil and gas assets.
PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION	PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION – The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Murphy Oil Corporation and all majority-owned subsidiaries. For consolidated subsidiaries that are less than wholly owned, the noncontrolling interest is reflected in the balance sheet as a component of Stockholders’ Equity. Undivided interests in oil and gas joint ventures are consolidated on a proportionate basis. Investments in affiliates in which the Company owns from 20% to 50% are accounted for by the equity method. Other investments are generally carried at cost. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
REVENUE RECOGNITION	REVENUE RECOGNITION – Revenues from sales of crude oil, natural gas and refined petroleum products are recorded when deliveries have occurred and legal ownership of the commodity transfers to the customer. Refined products sold at retail are recorded when the customer takes delivery at the pump. Title transfer for bulk motor fuel products generally occurs at pipeline custody points or upon truck loading at product terminals. Merchandise revenues are recorded at the point of sale. Rebates from vendors are recognized as a reduction of cost of goods sold when the initiating transaction occurs. Revenues from the production of oil and natural gas properties in which Murphy shares an undivided interest with other producers are recognized based on the actual volumes sold by the Company during the period. Natural gas imbalances occur when the Company’s actual gas sales volumes differ from its entitlement under existing working interests. The Company records a liability for gas imbalances when it has sold more than its working interest of gas production and the estimated remaining reserves make it doubtful that partners can recoup their share of production from the field. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, the liabilities for natural gas balancing were immaterial. The Company enters into buy/sell and similar arrangements when crude oil and other petroleum products are held at one location but are needed at a different location. The Company often pays or receives funds related to the buy/sell arrangement based on location or quality differences. The Company accounts for such transactions on a net basis in its consolidated statement of income.
TAXES COLLECTED FROM CUSTOMERS AND REMITTED TO GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES	TAXES COLLECTED FROM CUSTOMERS AND REMITTED TO GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES – Excise and other taxes collected on sales of refined products and remitted to governmental agencies are excluded from revenues and costs and expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Income.
CASH EQUIVALENTS	CASH EQUIVALENTS – Short-term investments, which include government securities and other instruments with government securities as collateral, that have a maturity of three months or less from the date of purchase are classified as cash equivalents.
MARKETABLE SECURITIES	MARKETABLE SECURITIES – The Company classifies investments in marketable securities as available-for-sale or held-to-maturity. The Company does not have any investments classified as trading. Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value with the unrealized gain or loss, net of tax, reported in other comprehensive income. Held-to-maturity securities are recorded at amortized cost. Premiums and discounts are amortized or accreted into earnings over the life of the related available-for-sale or held-to-maturity security. Dividend and interest income is recognized when earned. Unrealized losses considered to be other than temporary are recognized currently in earnings. The cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification method. The fair value of investment securities is determined by available market prices. At December 31, 2012, the Company owned Canadian government securities with maturities greater than 90 days at date of acquisition that had a carrying value of $115,603,000.
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE	ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE – The Company’s accounts receivable primarily consists of amounts owed to the Company by customers for sales of crude oil, natural gas and refined products under varying credit arrangements. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses on these receivables. The Company reviews this allowance for adequacy at least quarterly and bases its assessment on a combination of current information about its customers and historical write-off experience. Any trade accounts receivable balances written off are charged against the allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company has not experienced any significant credit-related losses in the past three years.
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT	PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT – The Company uses the successful efforts method to account for exploration and development expenditures. Leasehold acquisition costs are capitalized. If proved reserves are found on an undeveloped property, leasehold cost is transferred to proved properties. Costs of undeveloped leases are generally expensed over the life of the leases. Exploratory well costs are capitalized pending determination about whether proved reserves have been found. In certain cases, a determination of whether a drilled exploratory well has found proved reserves cannot be made immediately. This is generally due to the need for a major capital expenditure to produce and/or evacuate the hydrocarbon(s) found. The determination of whether to make such a capital expenditure is usually dependent on whether further exploratory wells find a sufficient quantity of additional reserves. The Company continues to capitalize exploratory well costs in Property, Plant and Equipment when the well has found a sufficient quantity of reserves to justify its completion as a producing well and the Company is making sufficient progress assessing the reserves and the economic and operating viability of the project. The Company reevaluates its capitalized drilling costs at least annually to ascertain whether drilling costs continue to qualify for ongoing capitalization. Other exploratory costs, including geological and geophysical costs, are charged to expense as incurred. Development costs, including unsuccessful development wells, are capitalized. Interest is capitalized on development projects that are expected to take one year or more to complete. Oil and gas properties are evaluated by field for potential impairment. Other properties are evaluated for impairment on a specific asset basis or in groups of similar assets as applicable. An impairment is recognized when the estimated undiscounted future net cash flows of an asset are less than its carrying value. If an impairment occurs, the carrying value of the impaired asset is reduced to fair value. The Company records a liability for asset retirement obligations (ARO) equal to the fair value of the estimated cost to retire an asset. The ARO liability is initially recorded in the period in which the obligation meets the definition of a liability, which is generally when a well is drilled or the asset is placed in service. The ARO liability is estimated by the Company’s engineers using existing regulatory requirements and anticipated future inflation rates. When the liability is initially recorded, the Company increases the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset by an amount equal to the original liability. The liability is increased over time to reflect the change in its present value, and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the useful life of the related long-lived asset. The Company reevaluates the adequacy of its recorded ARO liability at least annually. Actual costs of asset retirements such as dismantling oil and gas production facilities and site restoration are charged against the related liability. Any difference between costs incurred upon settlement of an asset retirement obligation and the recorded liability is recognized as a gain or loss in the Company’s earnings. Depreciation and depletion of producing oil and gas properties is recorded based on units of production. Unit rates are computed for unamortized exploration drilling and development costs using proved developed reserves; unit rates for unamortized leasehold costs and asset retirement costs are amortized over proved reserves. Proved reserves are estimated by the Company’s engineers and are subject to future revisions based on availability of additional information. Refineries, certain marketing facilities and certain natural gas processing facilities are depreciated primarily using the composite straight-line method with depreciable lives ranging from 14 to 25 years. Gasoline stations and other properties are depreciated over 3 to 20 years by individual unit on the straight-line method. Gains and losses on asset disposals or retirements are included in income as a separate component of revenues. Turnarounds for major processing units at the Milford Haven, Wales refinery are scheduled at four to five year intervals. Turnarounds for coking units at Syncrude Canada Ltd. are scheduled at intervals of two to three years. Turnaround work associated with various other less significant units at Milford Haven and Syncrude varies depending on operating requirements and events. Murphy defers turnaround costs incurred and amortizes such costs through Operating Expenses over the period until the next scheduled turnaround. All other maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Renewals and betterments are capitalized. Major turnarounds occurred in 2010 at both the Meraux, Louisiana, and Milford Haven, Wales, refineries.
INVENTORIES	INVENTORIES – Unsold crude oil production is carried in inventory at the lower of cost, generally applied on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis, or market, and includes costs incurred to bring the inventory to its existing condition. Refinery inventories of crude oil and other feedstocks and finished product inventories are valued at the lower of cost, generally applied on a last-in, first-out (LIFO) basis, or market. Merchandise inventory held for resale at retail marketing stations is generally carried at average cost and is included in Finished Products Inventory. Materials and supplies are valued at the lower of average cost or estimated value and generally consist of tubulars and other drilling equipment as well as spare parts for refinery operations. Cash collected upon the sale of inventory to customers is classified as an operating activity in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.
GOODWILL	GOODWILL – Goodwill is recorded in an acquisition when the purchase price exceeds the fair value of net assets acquired. All recorded goodwill arose from the purchase of an oil and natural gas company by Murphy’s wholly owned Canadian subsidiary in 2000. Goodwill is not amortized, but is assessed at least annually for recoverability of the carrying value. The Company assesses goodwill recoverability at each year-end by comparing the fair value of net assets for conventional oil and natural gas properties in Canada with the carrying value of these net assets including goodwill. The fair value of the conventional oil and natural gas reporting unit is determined using the expected present value of future cash flows. The change in the carrying value of goodwill during 2012 was primarily caused by a change in the foreign currency translation rate between years. Based on its assessment of the fair value of its Canadian conventional oil and natural gas operations, the Company believes the recorded value of goodwill is not impaired at December 31, 2012. Should a future assessment indicate that goodwill is not fully recoverable, an impairment charge to write down the carrying value of goodwill would be required. See Note B for accounting changes applicable to goodwill recoverability testing beginning in 2012.
ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITIES	ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITIES – A liability for environmental matters is established when it is probable that an environmental obligation exists and the cost can be reasonably estimated. If there is a range of reasonably estimated costs, the most likely amount will be recorded, or if no amount is most likely, the minimum of the range is used. Related expenditures are charged against the liability. Environmental remediation liabilities have not been discounted for the time value of future expected payments. Environmental expenditures that have future economic benefit are capitalized.
INCOME TAXES	INCOME TAXES – The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method. Under this method, income taxes are provided for amounts currently payable and for amounts deferred as tax assets and liabilities based on differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of existing assets and liabilities. Deferred income taxes are measured using the enacted tax rates that are assumed will be in effect when the differences reverse. Petroleum revenue taxes are provided using the estimated effective tax rate over the life of applicable U.K. oil and gas properties. The accounting rules for income tax uncertainties permit recognition of income tax benefits only when they are more likely than not to be realized. The Company includes potential penalties and interest for uncertain income tax positions in income tax expense.
FOREIGN CURRENCY	FOREIGN CURRENCY – Local currency is the functional currency used for recording operations in Canada and for refining and marketing activities in the United Kingdom. The U.S. dollar is the functional currency used to record all other operations. Exchange gains or losses from transactions in a currency other than the functional currency are included in earnings. Gains or losses from translating foreign functional currency into U.S. dollars are included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Stockholders’ Equity.
DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES	DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES – The fair value of a derivative instrument is recognized as an asset or liability in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet. Upon entering into a derivative contract, the Company may designate the derivative as either a fair value hedge or a cash flow hedge, or decide that the contract is not a hedge, and thenceforth, recognize changes in the fair value of the contract in earnings. The Company documents the relationship between the derivative instrument designated as a hedge and the hedged items as well as its objective for risk management and strategy for use of the hedging instrument to manage the risk. Derivative instruments designated as fair value or cash flow hedges are linked to specific assets and liabilities or to specific firm commitments or forecasted transactions. The Company assesses at inception and on an ongoing basis whether a derivative instrument used as a hedge is highly effective in offsetting changes in the fair value or cash flows of the hedged item. A derivative that is not a highly effective hedge does not qualify for hedge accounting. Changes in the fair value of a qualifying fair value hedge are recorded in earnings along with the gain or loss on the hedged item. Changes in the fair value of a qualifying cash flow hedge are recorded in other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. When the income effect of the underlying cash flow hedged item is recognized in the Statement of Income, the fair value of the associated cash flow hedge is reclassified from other comprehensive income into earnings. Ineffective portions of a cash flow hedge derivative’s change in fair value are recognized currently in earnings. If a derivative instrument no longer qualifies as a cash flow hedge and the underlying forecasted transaction is no longer probable of occurring, hedge accounting is discontinued and the gain or loss recorded in other comprehensive income is recognized immediately in earnings.
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION	STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION – The fair value of awarded stock options, restricted stock units and other stock-based compensation is determined based on a combination of management assumptions and the market value of the Company’s common stock. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model for computing the fair value of stock options. The primary assumptions made by management include the expected life of the stock option award and the expected volatility of Murphy’s common stock prices. The Company uses both historical data and current information to support its assumptions. Stock option expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the respective vesting period of two or three years. The Company uses a Monte Carlo valuation model to determine the fair value of performance-based restricted stock units and expense is recognized over the three-year vesting period. The fair value of time-lapse restricted stock is determined based on the price of Company stock on the date of grant and expense is recognized over the vesting period. The Company estimates the number of stock options and performance-based restricted stock units that will not vest and adjusts its compensation expense accordingly. Differences between estimated and actual vested amounts are accounted for as an adjustment to expense when known.
NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE	NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE – Basic income per Common share is computed by dividing net income for each reporting period by the weighted average number of Common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted income per Common share is computed by dividing net income for each reporting period by the weighted average number of Common shares outstanding during the period plus the effects of all potentially dilutive Common shares.
USE OF ESTIMATES	USE OF ESTIMATES – In preparing the financial statements of the Company in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, management has made a number of estimates and assumptions related to the reporting of assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results may differ from the estimates.

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

NATURE OF BUSINESS – Murphy Oil Corporation is an international oil and gas company that conducts its business through various operating subsidiaries. The Company produces oil and/or natural gas in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Republic of the Congo and conducts oil and natural gas exploration activities worldwide. The Company has an interest in a Canadian synthetic oil operation. Murphy markets petroleum products under various brand names and to unbranded wholesale customers in the United States and United Kingdom. It owns two ethanol production facilities in the United States and one petroleum refinery in the United Kingdom. In 2011, the Company sold two U.S. petroleum refineries and certain associated marketing assets. The Company has announced its intention to sell the U.K. refining and marketing assets and to separate its U.S. downstream subsidiary into an independent publicly held company. The Company has also announced that it has entered into agreements to sell its U.K. oil and gas assets.

PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION

PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION – The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Murphy Oil Corporation and all majority-owned subsidiaries. For consolidated subsidiaries that are less than wholly owned, the noncontrolling interest is reflected in the balance sheet as a component of Stockholders’ Equity. Undivided interests in oil and gas joint ventures are consolidated on a proportionate basis. Investments in affiliates in which the Company owns from 20% to 50% are accounted for by the equity method. Other investments are generally carried at cost. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

REVENUE RECOGNITION

REVENUE RECOGNITION – Revenues from sales of crude oil, natural gas and refined petroleum products are recorded when deliveries have occurred and legal ownership of the commodity transfers to the customer. Refined products sold at retail are recorded when the customer takes delivery at the pump. Title transfer for bulk motor fuel products generally occurs at pipeline custody points or upon truck loading at product terminals. Merchandise revenues are recorded at the point of sale. Rebates from vendors are recognized as a reduction of cost of goods sold when the initiating transaction occurs. Revenues from the production of oil and natural gas properties in which Murphy shares an undivided interest with other producers are recognized based on the actual volumes sold by the Company during the period. Natural gas imbalances occur when the Company’s actual gas sales volumes differ from its entitlement under existing working interests. The Company records a liability for gas imbalances when it has sold more than its working interest of gas production and the estimated remaining reserves make it doubtful that partners can recoup their share of production from the field. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, the liabilities for natural gas balancing were immaterial.

The Company enters into buy/sell and similar arrangements when crude oil and other petroleum products are held at one location but are needed at a different location. The Company often pays or receives funds related to the buy/sell arrangement based on location or quality differences. The Company accounts for such transactions on a net basis in its consolidated statement of income.

TAXES COLLECTED FROM CUSTOMERS AND REMITTED TO GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES

TAXES COLLECTED FROM CUSTOMERS AND REMITTED TO GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES – Excise and other taxes collected on sales of refined products and remitted to governmental agencies are excluded from revenues and costs and expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Income.

CASH EQUIVALENTS

CASH EQUIVALENTS – Short-term investments, which include government securities and other instruments with government securities as collateral, that have a maturity of three months or less from the date of purchase are classified as cash equivalents.

MARKETABLE SECURITIES

MARKETABLE SECURITIES – The Company classifies investments in marketable securities as available-for-sale or held-to-maturity. The Company does not have any investments classified as trading. Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value with the unrealized gain or loss, net of tax, reported in other comprehensive income. Held-to-maturity securities are recorded at amortized cost. Premiums and discounts are amortized or accreted into earnings over the life of the related available-for-sale or held-to-maturity security. Dividend and interest income is recognized when earned. Unrealized losses considered to be other than temporary are recognized currently in earnings. The cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification method. The fair value of investment securities is determined by available market prices. At December 31, 2012, the Company owned Canadian government securities with maturities greater than 90 days at date of acquisition that had a carrying value of $115,603,000.

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE – The Company’s accounts receivable primarily consists of amounts owed to the Company by customers for sales of crude oil, natural gas and refined products under varying credit arrangements. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses on these receivables. The Company reviews this allowance for adequacy at least quarterly and bases its assessment on a combination of current information about its customers and historical write-off experience. Any trade accounts receivable balances written off are charged against the allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company has not experienced any significant credit-related losses in the past three years.

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT – The Company uses the successful efforts method to account for exploration and development expenditures. Leasehold acquisition costs are capitalized. If proved reserves are found on an undeveloped property, leasehold cost is transferred to proved properties. Costs of undeveloped leases are generally expensed over the life of the leases. Exploratory well costs are capitalized pending determination about whether proved reserves have been found. In certain cases, a determination of whether a drilled exploratory well has found proved reserves cannot be made immediately. This is generally due to the need for a major capital expenditure to produce and/or evacuate the hydrocarbon(s) found. The determination of whether to make such a capital expenditure is usually dependent on whether further exploratory wells find a sufficient quantity of additional reserves. The Company continues to capitalize exploratory well costs in Property, Plant and Equipment when the well has found a sufficient quantity of reserves to justify its completion as a producing well and the Company is making sufficient progress assessing the reserves and the economic and operating viability of the project. The Company reevaluates its capitalized drilling costs at least annually to ascertain whether drilling costs continue to qualify for ongoing capitalization. Other exploratory costs, including geological and geophysical costs, are charged to expense as incurred. Development costs, including unsuccessful development wells, are capitalized. Interest is capitalized on development projects that are expected to take one year or more to complete.

Oil and gas properties are evaluated by field for potential impairment. Other properties are evaluated for impairment on a specific asset basis or in groups of similar assets as applicable. An impairment is recognized when the estimated undiscounted future net cash flows of an asset are less than its carrying value. If an impairment occurs, the carrying value of the impaired asset is reduced to fair value.

The Company records a liability for asset retirement obligations (ARO) equal to the fair value of the estimated cost to retire an asset. The ARO liability is initially recorded in the period in which the obligation meets the definition of a liability, which is generally when a well is drilled or the asset is placed in service. The ARO liability is estimated by the Company’s engineers using existing regulatory requirements and anticipated future inflation rates. When the liability is initially recorded, the Company increases the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset by an amount equal to the original liability. The liability is increased over time to reflect the change in its present value, and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the useful life of the related long-lived asset. The Company reevaluates the adequacy of its recorded ARO liability at least annually. Actual costs of asset retirements such as dismantling oil and gas production facilities and site restoration are charged against the related liability. Any difference between costs incurred upon settlement of an asset retirement obligation and the recorded liability is recognized as a gain or loss in the Company’s earnings.

Depreciation and depletion of producing oil and gas properties is recorded based on units of production. Unit rates are computed for unamortized exploration drilling and development costs using proved developed reserves; unit rates for unamortized leasehold costs and asset retirement costs are amortized over proved reserves. Proved reserves are estimated by the Company’s engineers and are subject to future revisions based on availability of additional information. Refineries, certain marketing facilities and certain natural gas processing facilities are depreciated primarily using the composite straight-line method with depreciable lives ranging from 14 to 25 years. Gasoline stations and other properties are depreciated over 3 to 20 years by individual unit on the straight-line method. Gains and losses on asset disposals or retirements are included in income as a separate component of revenues.

Turnarounds for major processing units at the Milford Haven, Wales refinery are scheduled at four to five year intervals. Turnarounds for coking units at Syncrude Canada Ltd. are scheduled at intervals of two to three years. Turnaround work associated with various other less significant units at Milford Haven and Syncrude varies depending on operating requirements and events. Murphy defers turnaround costs incurred and amortizes such costs through Operating Expenses over the period until the next scheduled turnaround. All other maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Renewals and betterments are capitalized. Major turnarounds occurred in 2010 at both the Meraux, Louisiana, and Milford Haven, Wales, refineries.

INVENTORIES

INVENTORIES – Unsold crude oil production is carried in inventory at the lower of cost, generally applied on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis, or market, and includes costs incurred to bring the inventory to its existing condition. Refinery inventories of crude oil and other feedstocks and finished product inventories are valued at the lower of cost, generally applied on a last-in, first-out (LIFO) basis, or market. Merchandise inventory held for resale at retail marketing stations is generally carried at average cost and is included in Finished Products Inventory. Materials and supplies are valued at the lower of average cost or estimated value and generally consist of tubulars and other drilling equipment as well as spare parts for refinery operations. Cash collected upon the sale of inventory to customers is classified as an operating activity in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

GOODWILL

GOODWILL – Goodwill is recorded in an acquisition when the purchase price exceeds the fair value of net assets acquired. All recorded goodwill arose from the purchase of an oil and natural gas company by Murphy’s wholly owned Canadian subsidiary in 2000. Goodwill is not amortized, but is assessed at least annually for recoverability of the carrying value. The Company assesses goodwill recoverability at each year-end by comparing the fair value of net assets for conventional oil and natural gas properties in Canada with the carrying value of these net assets including goodwill. The fair value of the conventional oil and natural gas reporting unit is determined using the expected present value of future cash flows. The change in the carrying value of goodwill during 2012 was primarily caused by a change in the foreign currency translation rate between years. Based on its assessment of the fair value of its Canadian conventional oil and natural gas operations, the Company believes the recorded value of goodwill is not impaired at December 31, 2012. Should a future assessment indicate that goodwill is not fully recoverable, an impairment charge to write down the carrying value of goodwill would be required. See Note B for accounting changes applicable to goodwill recoverability testing beginning in 2012.

ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITIES

ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITIES – A liability for environmental matters is established when it is probable that an environmental obligation exists and the cost can be reasonably estimated. If there is a range of reasonably estimated costs, the most likely amount will be recorded, or if no amount is most likely, the minimum of the range is used. Related expenditures are charged against the liability. Environmental remediation liabilities have not been discounted for the time value of future expected payments. Environmental expenditures that have future economic benefit are capitalized.

INCOME TAXES

INCOME TAXES – The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method. Under this method, income taxes are provided for amounts currently payable and for amounts deferred as tax assets and liabilities based on differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of existing assets and liabilities. Deferred income taxes are measured using the enacted tax rates that are assumed will be in effect when the differences reverse. Petroleum revenue taxes are provided using the estimated effective tax rate over the life of applicable U.K. oil and gas properties. The accounting rules for income tax uncertainties permit recognition of income tax benefits only when they are more likely than not to be realized. The Company includes potential penalties and interest for uncertain income tax positions in income tax expense.

FOREIGN CURRENCY

FOREIGN CURRENCY – Local currency is the functional currency used for recording operations in Canada and for refining and marketing activities in the United Kingdom. The U.S. dollar is the functional currency used to record all other operations. Exchange gains or losses from transactions in a currency other than the functional currency are included in earnings. Gains or losses from translating foreign functional currency into U.S. dollars are included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Stockholders’ Equity.

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES – The fair value of a derivative instrument is recognized as an asset or liability in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet. Upon entering into a derivative contract, the Company may designate the derivative as either a fair value hedge or a cash flow hedge, or decide that the contract is not a hedge, and thenceforth, recognize changes in the fair value of the contract in earnings. The Company documents the relationship between the derivative instrument designated as a hedge and the hedged items as well as its objective for risk management and strategy for use of the hedging instrument to manage the risk. Derivative instruments designated as fair value or cash flow hedges are linked to specific assets and liabilities or to specific firm commitments or forecasted transactions. The Company assesses at inception and on an ongoing basis whether a derivative instrument used as a hedge is highly effective in offsetting changes in the fair value or cash flows of the hedged item. A derivative that is not a highly effective hedge does not qualify for hedge accounting. Changes in the fair value of a qualifying fair value hedge are recorded in earnings along with the gain or loss on the hedged item. Changes in the fair value of a qualifying cash flow hedge are recorded in other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. When the income

effect of the underlying cash flow hedged item is recognized in the Statement of Income, the fair value of the associated cash flow hedge is reclassified from other comprehensive income into earnings. Ineffective portions of a cash flow hedge derivative’s change in fair value are recognized currently in earnings. If a derivative instrument no longer qualifies as a cash flow hedge and the underlying forecasted transaction is no longer probable of occurring, hedge accounting is discontinued and the gain or loss recorded in other comprehensive income is recognized immediately in earnings.

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION – The fair value of awarded stock options, restricted stock units and other stock-based compensation is determined based on a combination of management assumptions and the market value of the Company’s common stock. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model for computing the fair value of stock options. The primary assumptions made by management include the expected life of the stock option award and the expected volatility of Murphy’s common stock prices. The Company uses both historical data and current information to support its assumptions. Stock option expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the respective vesting period of two or three years. The Company uses a Monte Carlo valuation model to determine the fair value of performance-based restricted stock units and expense is recognized over the three-year vesting period. The fair value of time-lapse restricted stock is determined based on the price of Company stock on the date of grant and expense is recognized over the vesting period. The Company estimates the number of stock options and performance-based restricted stock units that will not vest and adjusts its compensation expense accordingly. Differences between estimated and actual vested amounts are accounted for as an adjustment to expense when known.

NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE

NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE – Basic income per Common share is computed by dividing net income for each reporting period by the weighted average number of Common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted income per Common share is computed by dividing net income for each reporting period by the weighted average number of Common shares outstanding during the period plus the effects of all potentially dilutive Common shares.

USE OF ESTIMATES

USE OF ESTIMATES – In preparing the financial statements of the Company in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, management has made a number of estimates and assumptions related to the reporting of assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results may differ from the estimates.